Kate calls for society to end stigma surrounding addiction during Essex visit

• The Princess of Wales has made a solo public appearance at Garon Park in Southend , Essex , to visit the Forward Trust's Forward Growing initiative.
• As patron of the charity, Kate toured the garden project which supports individuals recovering from addiction by encouraging them to engage with nature.
• The visit marked Addiction Awareness Week, an event first launched by the princess in 2021 to encourage open conversations about addiction.
• During her tour, Kate praised the space and remarked that her husband is really passionate about gardening and knows a lot about the subject.
• The princess reaffirmed her call for society to end the stigma surrounding addiction, stressing that it is a complex mental health condition requiring empathy rather than judgement.

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